Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Greater Good Science Center, devotes his career to an emotion that is too often overlooked: wonder. For more than twenty years, he has explored this unique sensation, which he distinguishes from joy or fear, and analyzes its positive impact on our body, our relationships and our perception of the world. For Keltner, wonder is not just a fleeting feeling, but a real lever to enrich our lives and strengthen our well-being.
In a discussion with Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of the podcast “Am I Doing It Wrong?” » from HuffPost, Keltner shared his thoughts on the importance of incorporating more wonder into our daily lives. According to him, this quest could transform not only the way we live, but also the way we interact with others and our environment.
But how to achieve this, and what would be the effects? So many questions that Keltner answers through his work and his fascinating research.
The effects of wonder on our brain
“It’s fascinating!” This says a lot about the evolution of the human nervous system,” said Dacher Keltner, author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. He explains that a specific region of our brain, called the default mode network, turns off when we experience wonder. “This network is responsible for self-centered thoughts: thinking about yourself, your goals, your tasks or your schedule. During wonder, all this calms down. »
Wonder stimulates our vagus nerve, an important nerve bundle that runs from the top of the spinal cord. As Keltner explains, this nerve plays a key role: helping us make eye contact, make sounds, slow our heart rate, aid digestion, and open us to experiences larger than ourselves.
“Amazement also helps slow the inflammatory process,” says Keltner, drawing on his research. “Inflammation is part of our immune system that fights disease. We want him to remain balanced, neither too active nor constantly on alert. »
How to cultivate wonder?
But then, how can we further cultivate this state of wonder? According to Keltner, who served as scientific advisor for the film Vice-Versa from Pixar, it can be as simple as adopting what he calls a “walk of wonder.”
Keltner and several of his colleagues conducted a study to better understand wonder and its effects on those who experience it.
“We worked with people aged 75 or older, an age group where you often start to experience more anxiety, depression and physical pain,” he explained. “In the control group, participants took a simple weekly walk. But as part of our “wonder walk” experiment, we gave them a special instruction: “During your walk, choose a place where you could feel a little wonder. Look around you – the little things and the big things – and let yourself be carried away by this feeling of mystery and wonder. » That’s all we asked them. »
Keltner explained that wonder, whether on a walk or in other contexts, can arise from a simple moment of observing the world around us. It can range from a detail as tiny as a freshly bloomed flower to a spectacle as grandiose as a sunset setting the sky ablaze. Among other sources of wonder, he discusses what he calls “moral beauty” – witnessing acts of kindness, generosity, or goodness. Listening to music, admiring art, or thinking about big ideas are also some of the experiences that can awaken this feeling, and all of these can be experienced during a “wonder walk.”
Study results: three fascinating findings
Comparing the results of the control group with those of the group participating in these wonder walks, Keltner said they identified “three really fascinating findings.”
“Over the eight weeks of the study, participants in the “wonder walk” group gradually felt more and more wonder. It shows that by actively seeking wonder, we tend to discover more, which I think is very meaningful,” Keltner explained.
It also noted that these people, ages 75 and older, reported decreased pain and distress over time. “Chronic pain, particularly in older adults, can have a profound impact on consciousness. But here is a simple little technique that gave them some peace of mind. »
The researchers also observed a phenomenon that Keltner describes as “the disappearance of the self.”
“Each week we asked participants to take a photo of themselves. We noticed that those participating in the wonder walk tended to move away from the goal, as if they were disappearing. This shows that their awareness is so focused on the larger environment that they forget to focus on themselves. They’re moving away from the idea of ”here’s my face, and I have to position it well in the photo.”
They become more attentive to the scene around them. It is crucial to expand our attention to things outside of us. » Ultimately, Keltner points out that the more people, regardless of age, feel awe and wonder, the better off they are.
“This generates an incredible physiological response, which we can observe almost daily, and which is extremely beneficial for us,” he explained.
Conclusion
Wonder thus offers unsuspected potential to improve our well-being and our quality of life. By cultivating this emotion, we not only reduce our stress, but we also improve our physical and mental health. The simple practice of “walking in wonder” can have profound effects, particularly in the elderly, by reducing pain and providing lasting relief.
The results of this study highlight the importance of taking the time to stop and observe the world around us. By actively seeking wonder, we can broaden our perspective, cultivate a sense of connection with our environment, and enrich our social interactions. Wonder thus becomes a powerful tool for living in a more serene and fulfilled way.
